Effects of agricultural land management changes on surface water quality: a review of meso-scale catchment research
Article
Article Title | Effects of agricultural land management changes on surface water quality: a review of meso-scale catchment research |
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ERA Journal ID | 36370 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Melland, A. R. (Author), Fenton, O. (Author) and Jordan, P. (Author) |
Journal Title | Environmental Science and Policy |
Journal Citation | 84, pp. 19-25 |
Number of Pages | 7 |
Year | 2018 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Oxford, United Kingdom |
ISSN | 1462-9011 |
1873-6416 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.02.011 |
Abstract | Measuring the environmental impacts of agricultural practice is critical for policy formulation and review, including policies implemented to improve water quality. Here, studies that measured such impacts in surface waters of hydrologically diverse meso-scale catchments (1–100 km2) were reviewed. Positive water quality effects were measured in 17 out of 25 reviewed studies. Successful farm practices included improved landscape engineering, improved crop management and reductions in farming intensity. Positive effects occurred from 1 to 10 years after the measures were implemented, with the response time broadly increasing with catchment size. However, it took from 4 to 20 years to confidently detect the effects. Policy makers and scientists should account for these hydrological and biogeochemical time lags when setting policy and planning monitoring in meso-scale catchments. To successfully measure policy effects, rates of practice change should also be measured with targeted water quality parameters. |
Keywords | mitigation; mMeasures; BMP; agriculture; management practice; water quality; catchment; nitrogen; phosphorus |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300201. Agricultural hydrology |
300202. Agricultural land management | |
410404. Environmental management | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture |
Teagasc Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Ireland | |
University of Ulster, United Kingdom | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q5139/effects-of-agricultural-land-management-changes-on-surface-water-quality-a-review-of-meso-scale-catchment-research
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